Spring clip for diapers and the like



Feb. 11, 1964 P. K. GREENING ETAL 3,120,687

SPRING CLIP FOR DIAPERS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1960 JZ G. 8

IN VEN TORS. 1 401. A. GREEN/MG J4MS 1 BOA/50V United 3,120,687.Patented Feb. 11, 1964 3,129,687 SPRING (BLIP FUR DIAPERS AND THE LIKEPaul K. Greening, lFarniington, N. Mex. (W. 1107 27th, Spokane 41,Wash), and James E. Bomhoy, 724 El Paso, Farnrington, N. Mex.

Filed Ian. 18, 196i Ser. No. 3,001 It) Claims. (CI. 24-87) Thisinvention relates to a spring clip construction adapted to be employedfor pinning diapers, for pmnrng patterns to pieces of cloth, and forother purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring clip which is highlysimple to use yet is extremely effective in its fastener operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a d aper clip which ismuch simpler to use than a conventional diaper pin, and which may have ahighly decorative appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper clip which may beswallowed without substantial danger that the sharp points thereof willpenetrate the tissues of the infant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper clip having lockmeans adapted to insure against accidental opening of the clip, and alsoadapted to facilitate insertion of the pointed portions of the clip intoa diaper.

A further object is to provide a highly economical clip which may bereadily employed to pin patterns to sheets of cloth, etc.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered inconnection with the attached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a diaper clipconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the lock portionof the clip being illustrated as rotated to unlocking position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the clip when in the position shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation corresponding to FIG- URE 2 butillustrating the positions of the elements when disposed for insertioninto a diaper;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the clip in closed position and with the lockportion rotated to locking position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention,wherein the locking means is omitted;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on a much enlarged scale, showing apattern clip in closed and inverted position;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the pattern clip illustrated in FIGURE6; and

FIGURE 8 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 7 but showing the patternclip in position for insertion into a pattern or the like.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-4 of the drawing,the spring clip is illustrated to comprise a strip II) of springmaterial, a pair of arms 11 connected to spring at the end portionsthereof, point elements 12 mounted on the arms 11 adjacent themid-portion of the spring It and means 13 to lock the spring It) in abowed condition and to aid in the insertion of point elements 12 into adiaper or the like.

Spring strip 19 comprises a relatively wide strip of spring metal, orany highly resilient spring plastic which may be in existence or besubsequently invented. The illustrated strip 10 is shown as beingsomewhat wider at its center portion than at its ends, the over-allshape being that of a double trapezoid having a common base. The normalor free position of the spring strip 10 is shown in FIGURE 2, such stripthen lying generally in a single plane.

The arms 11 are disposed longitudinally of strip 10 on only one sidethereof, which for convenience of reference may be called the underside.Each is illustrated to comprise a single strip of metal bent into theshape of an acute triangle having a maximum altitude substantially lessthan half the length of spring strip 10. The apex (minimum angle)portion of each arm 11 is secured to an end of the spring strip, as bysolder indicated at 15. When the spring strip is in the free positionillustrated in FIGURE 2, one side wall of each arm 11 is disposedadjacent one surface of the spring strip. It is within the scope of theinvention to form each arm 11 as a block of injection-molded plastichaving one end of spring strip It) embedded therein, the necessity forthe soldered joint 15 then being eliminated. Furthermore, the pointelements 12, to be described below, may be embedded in such plasticblocks.

Each point element I2 comprises an extremely sharp elongated metal pointor tapered pin which is secured to the inner end of an arm II bysoldering or the like, or by embedding as stated above. When the clip isin the free position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the points 12 aregenerally parallel to spring strip 10 and are lapped substantially(FIGURE 1). It is emphasized that, even prior to operation of the means13 to be described hereinafter, the point elements 12 are nested orindented above the level of the wide inner ends (bases) of arms II.Accordingly, should the clip become dislodged or be swallowed, thepoints would be substantially shielded by the arms and would effectlittle or no injury to the infant. The point elements are spaced fromspring 10, to provide room for a number of layers of diaper fabrictherebetween.

The means 13, which is a cam locking element, comprises a relativelyrigid elongated member disposed on the opposite side of strip 10 fromarms 11, and preferably having a length substantially less than that ofthe spring strip 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the cam lockingelement 13 is a rigid channel-shaped metal element the Web or undersideportion of which is longitudmally arcuate or concave as illustrated inFIGURE 4. The flanges 16 of the channel extend upwardly, or away fromthe spring strip It) against which the channel web is engaged, and areassociated with the web of the channel through a smooth curve (FIGURE2).

The cam locking element 13 is rotatably mounted at the center portion ofspring strip III as by a rivet 17 inserted through the centers of theseelements. When the means 13 is disposed longitudinally of the springstrip, as shown in FIGURE 4, such strip is necessarily bowed to conformto the arcuate or concave shape of the means 13. Stated otherwise,rotation of the means 13 through a degree angle from the position shownin FIGURES 1-3 to that shown in FIGURE 4 creates a cam action wherebythe spring strip It) is gradually bowed downwardly from its flatcondition (FIGURE 2) to its bowed condition (FIGURE 4).

It is polnted out that the means 13 may be a solid element instead of achannel element. It may be formed of plastic, and highly decorated.

In the operation of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4,

let it be assumed that the clip is initially in the unlocked and freecondition shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The user may then hold severallayers of diaper cloth in his left hand, to protect the infant frominjury, and may grasp the spring clip It) in his right hand. Morespecifically, the ends of the spring strip It) are held between thethumb and middle finger of the user, and the index finger is presseddownwardly against the rivet 17 to eifect bowing of the strip III to theFIGURE 3 position, or to a more extreme bowed condition. Because of thefact that the arms 11 are connected to the end portions of spring 10,such bowing of the spring causes the point elements 12 to move away fromthe spring and from each other, and to incline downwardly until inposition for insertion through the layers of cloth held by the left handof the user. It is then merely necessary to move the spring clipdownwardly until the sharp points 12 penetrate the cloth, and thenrelease the clip to permit the spring 10 to resume its substantiallyfiat condition shown in FIGURE 2.

Thereafter, the means or element 13 is rotated 90 degrees to effectbowing of the spring 10 to the FIG- URE 4 position. Such bowing of strip10 has the beneficial effect of causing the point elements 12 to inclineupwardly and become crossed, in the manner of crossed swords, whichincreases the grip on the cloth being held thereby. Several layers ofcloth are then humped upwardly between the ends of arms 11, adjacentrivet 17. The element 13 insures that the spring strip 10 will bemaintained in closed condition, so that the point elements 12 are notonly effectively locked in the fabric but are so directed that theycannot possibly harm the infant. The resilience of the spring 10 tendsto maintain the means 13, by friction, in its locking positionlongitudinally of the spring strip. Suitable detent protuberances, notshown, may be provided to insure against accidental rotation of themeans 13 from the locking position (FIGURE 4) to unlocking position(FIGURES 1-3).

The embodiment of FIGURE is identical to that of FIGURES 1-4 except thatthe means 13 is omitted.

Embodiment of Figures 6-8 FIGURES 6-8 illustrate a spring clip adaptedto be employed for purposes including the pinning of a pattern to asheet of cloth. The sewer conventionally performs such operation bymeans of straight pins, with considerable difficulty.

The illustrated spring clip comprises a spring strip 18, a pair of flatarms 19 disposed parallel to the strip 18 and connected thereto adjacentthe ends thereof, point elements 20 provided at the inner ends of thearms 19, and finger-grip elements 21 provided at the outer ends of thearms.

Stated more specifically, each arm 19 and an associated finger-gripelement 21 may be integral and may comprise a strip of metal bent atright angles adjacent an extreme end of the spring strip. Eachright-angle element may be secured to the spring strip as by a spot weldindicated at 22.

The point elements 20 are illustrated to comprise three sharp andtapered pins two of which are connected to the inner end of one of thearms 19, and the other of which is connected to the inner end of theremaining arm. The point elements incline away from the spring strip,and are normally crossed as best shown in FIG- URE 7. The position shownin FIGURES 6 and '7 is the normal one assumed when the spring strip isin its free position.

To use the pattern clip, the user merely squeezes the finger-gripelements 21 between her thumb and index finger, thereby effecting bowingof the strip 18 to the position shown in FIGURE 8. The point elements 20are then generally parallel and may be readily inserted downwardlythrough the pattern and the fabric disposed therebeneath. The fingergrip elements 21 are then released, permitting the clip to return to theposition shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The consequent re-crossing of thepoint elements 20 has the effect of maintaining the pattern grippedagainst the cloth. It is emphasized that there is no tension on thespring strip 18 at this time, the spring being in its free position.

During the above-described fastener operation, the sheet of cloth issupported on a hard surface, or on a pile rug, so that there will be nofastening of undesired elements to the cloth.

To remove the spring clip, in any embodiment, the procedure required formounting the same is merely reversed.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to What hasbeen illustrated and described in detail, may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A diaper clip, comprising an elongated spring element, first andsecond arm means respectively rigidly associated with said springelement at opposite end portions thereof, said arm means extendinggenerally longitudinally of said spring element from said outer endportions thereof to adjacent the mid-portion thereof, said arm meansboth being disposed on one side of said spring element, first and secondpoint elements respectively associated with said arm means and disposedadjacent said mid-portion of said spring element, said point elementsbeing sufficiently long and sharp to penetrate readily a substantialnumber of layers of diaper fabric, said point elements and said armmeans being so related to each other and to said spring element that thepointed ends of said point elements are shielded when said springelement is in free condition, and means to aid in insertion of saidpoint elements through said layers of fabric and also to insure againstaccidental unfastening of said clip, said means comprising an elongatedelement pivotally mounted at said mid-portion of said spring element andhaving an arcuate or concave surface adjacent said spring element, therelationship being such that turning of said elongated element throughan angle from a position transverse to said spring element to a positionlongitudinal to said spring element effects arching of said springelement to conform to said arcuate or concave surface of said elongatedelement.

2. A diaper clip, comprising a continuous elongated spring elementcapable of being flexed between normal and biased positions, first andsecond arm means respectively rigidly connected with said spring elementat the opposite free end portions thereof only, said arm means extendinggenerally longitudinally of the spring element inwardly from said freeend portions thereof to adjacent the mid portion thereof on one sideonly of said spring element, said arm means having substantial thicknessat their inner end portions, said inner end portions when the springelement is in biased position being spaced from the spring element, andfirst and second point elements respectively projecting inwardly fromsaid thickened inner end portions of said arm means, said point elementsbeing sufficiently long and sharp to penetrate readily a substantialnumber of layers of diaper fabric, said point elements and said armmeans being so related to each other and to said spring element that thepointed ends of said point elements are shielded when said springelement is in the normal position.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said point elements arerelatively straight and are generally parallel to said spring elementwhen the latter is in normal position.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said point elementsoverlap each other when said spring element is in normal position.

5. A spring clip, comprising a continuous fiat elongated spring stripelement capable of being flexed from normal or free position to a biasedposition, arm means rigidly associated with the outer end portions onlyof said spring strip element and extending on one side only andgenerally longitudinally of said spring strip element inwardly towardthe central portion thereof, said arm means having inner end portionsspaced from said spring strip element when the same is in said biasedposition, and point means associated with said arm means and disposed atsaid inner end portions thereof and shielded thereby when said strip isin normal position, said point means being sufliciently sharp topenetrate readily a plurality of layers of materal, said point meansbeing relatively straight and being rigidly connected to said inner endportions of said arm means, said point means extending generallyparallel to said spring strip element when the same is in said normalposition, the point means connected to one of said inner end portionsextending in opposite direction to the point means connected to theother of said inner end portions.

6. A spring clip, comprising a continuous flat elongated spring stripelement capable of being flexed from normal or free position to a biasedposition, arm means rigidly associated with the outer end portions onlyof said spring strip element and extending on one side only andgenerally longitudinally of said spring strip element inwardly towardthe central portion thereof, said arm means having inner end portionsspaced from said spring strip element when the same is in said biasedposition, said arm means being relatively thick at least at said innerend portions thereof, and point means associated with said arm means anddisposed at said inner end portions thereof and shielded thereby whensaid strip is in normal position, said point means being suflicientlysharp to penetrate readily a plurality of layers of ma terial, saidpoint means being relatively straight and being recessed beneath saidinner end portions of said arm means when said spring strip element isin said normal position, whereby said point means are shielded by saidinner end portions of said arm means when said spring strip element isin said normal position.

7. A spring clip, comprising a continuous flat elongated spring stripelement capable of being flexed from normal or free position to a biasedposition, arm means rigidly associated with the outer end portions onlyof said spring strip element and extending on one side only andgenerally longitudinally of said spring strip element inwardly towardthe central portion thereof, said arm means having inner end portionsspaced from said spring strip element when the same is in said biasedposition, point means associated with said arm means and disposed atsaid inner end portions thereof, said point means being suflicientlylong and sharp to penetrate readily a plurality of layers of material,and lock means to prevent flexing of said spring strip element to saidbiased position, thereby causing said inner end portions of said armmeans to remain relatively adjacent said spring strip element, said lockmeans being movable to a position permitting flexing of said springstrip element to said biased position.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which said lock meanscomprises a cam element pivotally mounted on said spring strip elementon the side thereof opposite said arm means, said cam element beingadapted upon rotation thereof to a position parallel to said arm meansto effect flexing of said spring strip element in a direction oppositeto the direction of flexing thereof to said biased position.

9. A spring clip, comprising a continuous elongated flexible springstrip, point elements associated with opposite end portions of saidstrip and located on the same side of said strip in such manner thatflexing of said strip in one direction conditions said point elementsfor insertion through layers of fabric, said point elements beingrespectively mounted on elongated arms, said arms being rigidlyassociated with the outer end portions only of said spring strip, saidarms extending only on one side of said spring strip generallylongitudinally thereof inwardly toward the central portion thereof, andelongated means pivotally associated with said strip and movablerelative thereto to effect flexing of said strip in the oppositedirection and thereby lock said point elements in gripping relationshiprelative to said fabric, said elongated means being pivotally connectedat its center to the center portion of said spring strip and on theopposite side thereof from said point elements.

10. A diaper clip comprising: an elongated freely flexible flat springstrip; point elements associated with opposite end portions of saidstrip and located on the underside thereof, the said point elementsbeing generally parallel with said strip when the latter is in itsnormal position, and an elongated arcuately shaped cam locking elementpivoted to the central top portion of said strip, the arrangement beingsuch that when the cam locking element is in one position the ends ofthe strip may be flexed upwardly and thereby cause the point elementstobecome separated from each other and point downwardly whereby layersof cloth may be introduced therebetween and when the clip is in itsnormal position the cam locking element may be swung over onto the topof the strip, whereby the said strip will be bowed downwardly to conformto the shape of said locking element and the point elements will becomelocked in the cloth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS353,482 Cottle Nov. 30, 1886 718,325 Dickerson et al Jan. 13, 1903733,723 Lukens July 14, 1903 776,763 Smith Dec. 6, 1904 823,905 TraillJune 19, 1906 1,248,450 Burke Dec. 4, 1917 1,504,398 Thornton Aug. 12,1924 1,728,316 Von Wachenfeldt Sept. 17, 1929 2,201,610 Dawson May 21,1940 2,232,142 Schumann Feb. 18, 1941 2,912,735 Johnson et al Nov. 17,1959 2,926,407 Cassell Mar. 1, 1960 2,969,572 Poe June 31, 19612,996,776 Cassell Aug. 22, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 427,753 Germany Apr. 16,1926

1. A DIAPER CLIP, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SPRING ELEMENT, FIRST ANDSECOND ARM MEANS RESPECTIVELY RIGIDLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SPRINGELEMENT AT OPPOSITE END PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID ARM MEANS EXTENDINGGENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SPRING ELEMENT FROM SAID OUTER ENDPORTIONS THEREOF TO ADJACENT THE MID-PORTION THEREOF, SAID ARM MEANSBOTH BEING DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID SPRING ELEMENT, FIRST AND SECONDPOINT ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ARM MEANS AND DISPOSEDADJACENT SAID MID-PORTION OF SAID SPRING ELEMENT, SAID POINT ELEMENTSBEING SUFFICIENTLY LONG AND SHARP TO PENETRATE READILY A SUBSTANTIALNUMBER OF LAYERS OF DIAPER FABRIC, SAID POINT ELEMENTS AND SAID ARMMEANS BEING SO RELATED TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID SPRING ELEMENT THAT THEPOINTED ENDS OF SAID POINT ELEMENTS ARE SHIELDED WHEN SAID SPRINGELEMENT IS IN FREE CONDITION, AND MEANS TO AID IN INSERTION OF SAIDPOINT ELEMENTS THROUGH SAID LAYERS OF FABRIC AND ALSO TO INSURE AGAINSTACCIDENTAL UNFASTENING OF SAID CLIP, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDELEMENT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT SAID MID-PORTION OF SAID SPRING ELEMENT ANDHAVING AN ARCULATE OR CONCAVE SURFACE ADJACENT SAID SPRING ELEMENT, THERELATIONSHIP BEING SUCH THAT TURNING OF SAID ELONGATED ELEMENT THROUGHAN ANGLE FROM A POSITION TRANSVERSE TO SAID SPRING ELEMENT TO A POSITIONLONGITUDINAL TO SAID SPRING ELEMENT EFFECTS ARCHING OF SAID SPRINGELEMENT TO CONFORM TO SAID ARCUATE OR CONCAVE SURFACE OF SAID ELONGATEDELEMENT.